How do we make a church culture shift that leads to everyone being on board for the inclusion of people with disabilities and the modifications we can make so they feel welcome? In this episode of Key Ministry: The Podcast with cohost Sandra Peoples, we'll talk through the shift King David made in the book of 2nd Samuel, from banning people with disabilities from entering the city to welcoming Mephibosheth at his table.
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Quick Links:
LifeWay Study, “Churches Believe They Are Welcoming to Those With Disabilities”
SBTC Special Needs resource page
US Census Number on People with Disabilities
Transcript:
This is Sandra Peoples, and you are listening to Key Ministry: The Podcast! This is episode 1, 'Welcome at the Table.' In this episode, we're looking at how to make a church culture shift that leads to everyone being on board for the inclusion of people with disabilities and the modifications we can make so they feel welcome. We'll talk through the shift King David made in the book of 2nd Samuel, from telling his men to kill people with disabilities to welcoming Mephibosheth at his table."
Since this is our very first episode, let me take a minute to introduce myself. I'm Sandra Peoples, a board member for Key Ministry. I've been part of the Key family for years, previously serving as the editor and social media manager. I'm so thankful for the work Steve and the entire Key team do to connect families to churches. I now serve the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant, helping churches welcome families like mine. I have a sister with Down syndrome and a son with autism, so most of my episodes will focus on family aspects of disability ministry and inclusion.
To kick off the podcast, I thought it would be helpful to look at a biblical example of a leader who made a shift from literally commanding the death of people with disabilities to welcoming the disabled son of his best friend to his table. The words and actions of today's church leaders aren't as extreme as King David's were, but there are many churches that don't include people with disabilities, essentially keeping them from the gospel and doing life with a faith family.
LifeWay research did a poll of Protestant pastors a few years ago and asked them if their churches welcomed people with disabilities. 99% said yes. 99%! When they released the study, families like mine responded that our experiences did not show that 99% of churches welcomed us. LifeWay asked more specific questions about exactly how the churches welcomed families and made accommodations, it was much clearer that they didn't have a true understanding of the challenges we face when wanting to attend church because their steps weren't actually the ones we needed.
So how do we make a shift in our churches from 99% of them thinking they are accessible to actually being accessible? This is where I think a look at the shift in King David's life is helpful. Let me read to you from 2 Samuel 5 and then 2 Samuel chapter 9.
"The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites had said to David, “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you” thinking, “David can’t get in here.” 7 Yet David did capture the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. 8 He said that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must go through the water shaft to reach the lame and the blind who are despised by David." For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the house."
I have to say, this is hard for me to read. First, instead of protecting and honoring the members of their community who were the most vulnerable, those who deserved respect and protection during this invasion, they used them as a way to mock David and his army. David responded by banning them from even entering Jerusalem after he conquered it. They weren't seen or respected as God's image bearers. They were driven out of their homes and away from their families because they have been used as pawns in the war by those who held the power.
Churches today don't declare "You can't come in here!" but many communicate that with their actions, or rather inactions. So what caused a shift for David? Let's look at a more familiar passage to most of us, 2 Samuel 9. I'm going to skip some verses to save time, but we'll start in verse 1:
David asked, “Is there anyone remaining from the family of Saul I can show kindness to for Jonathan’s sake?” 2 There was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. 3 So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family that I can show the kindness of God to?” Ziba said to the king, “There is still Jonathan’s son who was injured in both feet.” 4 The king asked him, “Where is he?” Ziba answered the king, “You’ll find him in Lo-debar ... 5 So King David had him brought from ... Lo-debar.
6 Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, fell facedown, and paid homage. David said, “Mephibosheth!” “I am your servant,” he replied. 7 “Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “since I intend to show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all your grandfather Saul’s fields, and you will always eat meals at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth paid homage and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” 9 Then the king summoned Saul’s attendant Ziba and said to him ... "Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem because he always ate at the king’s table. His feet had been injured.
Friends, we could spend more time than we have today looking at all the details in this passage. But let's hit the highlights:
First, David was mourning the death of his friend Jonathan. He wanted to show kindness to anyone left in the line of Jonathan. He found out there was a survivor— Mephibosheth. Earlier in 2 Sam. 4 we read this about him: "Saul’s son Jonathan had a son whose feet were crippled. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nanny picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to flee, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth."
Mephibosheth was now a man, summoned to approach the king who was ultimately responsible for the death of his father and grandfather. The very king who had made a law he couldn't live within the city of Jerusalem because he was lame. Mephibosheth fell at David's feet in fear as he was brought before the king. But David responded with an invitation to sit at his table and have all of Mephibosheth's grandfather's lands restored to him. The last verse we read said Mephibosheth then lived in Jerusalem and ate at the king's table. David broke the law he had made by inviting Mephibosheth into the city and to his table.
David took three steps we can learn from today: realization, restoration, and invitation. He had the realization that his friend's son was one of the people he had kept from living in his city. He made steps of restoration, giving back what was his and restoring their relationship. Then there was an invitation for Mephibosheth to always have a seat at David's table.
Churches can follow that same pattern of realization, restoration, and invitation.
They can look around their sanctuaries and realize that they don't reflect the US census numbers that 20% of families have a member with a disability.
They can take steps to restore trust and build relationships, including repenting of ways they haven't been as proactive as they should have been in making accommodations.
Finally, they can invite people with disabilities and their families to the table. The entire church can take steps to help us feel welcome and needed.
Jesus Himself took these steps when He healed those with disabilities, restoring them to the community and inviting them to have access to the temple to worship. In fact, it's how He spent His time during His final days on earth: making room for the disabled to enter the temple. The money changers we read about in Matthew 21:12 were likely set up in the temple space where Gentiles and those who were unclean could enter. After driving out the money changers, the blind and lame came to Jesus *in the temple* (v. 14).
As we end our time together, let's ask ourselves what is blocking the way for the disabled in our churches today? And what can we do about it? The application for me as a special needs family is that I need to show up even when I'm scared, like Mephibosheth did. As hard as it feels sometimes, someone has to go first to build relationships with those in power in our churches and pray for a heart change and a culture shift. That is a big part of my advocacy work as James's mom—to keep showing up and speaking out so we are welcome and other families who come to our church in the future don't have to overcome the challenge we may have to overcome.
Let's pray together: God, we mourn with you that churches aren't welcoming of everyone made in Your image. We are thankful for examples throughout Scripture that show Your heart and purpose for everyone, and that you give us models for inclusion that we can put into practice in our churches. Give us strength when we grow weary, creativity to meet a variety of needs, and a passion to keep welcoming more and more to the table! In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Thanks for listening to our first episode of Key Ministry: The Podcast! In the coming weeks, you'll hear episodes from Dr. Lamar Hardwick, Beth Golik, Catherine Boyle, and Dr. Steve Grcevich. Go ahead and hit subscribe right now so you don't miss an episode! And visit keyministry.org/podcast for a transcript of this episode and the shownotes!
